Pneumatic mattress and the like



Feb. 2, 1937.

R. w. sAMP's N PNEUMATIC MATTRESS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 25, 1933 4Sheets-Sheet 1 In we 72,501:

Feb. 2, 1937. R. w. SAMPSON 2,069,422

PNEUMATIC MATTRESS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 23, 1953 4 Shets-Sheet 2 Feb.2, 1937. R. w. SAMPSON 2,069,422

PNEUMATIC MATTRESS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 23, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3Jnve 722301:-

Feb. 2, 1937. R. w. SAMPSON 6 PNEUMATIC MATTRESS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov.25, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 2 2 a a m 3 M a e M. F 0 @u w 0 2 w M l -J. .wn u o 1 M 0 u u E Q n Y M 2 HHHHIH 1 Hun n n o m (lllllIlIlL a T l n m wn o o u w a F u w H H o v n o o o u v w 7 z m -i m a b m u of y T m i sm m Patented Feb. 2, 1937 FUNITEDFMQSTATES PNEUMATIC "mm'mzss Robert W.Sampson, New York, N. Y., assignm- I to Charles J. Hardy, New York, N.Y.

I Application November 23, 1933, Serial No. 899,328

' 7 Claims. (01. -348) My invention relates to mattresses, cushions andthe like which embody a pneumatic element or elements in combinationwithtextile and/or fibrous elements all of which may be assembled 5 ina-complete compositeunit.

-0bjects ofmy inventionare to give to the pneumatic element or-elementsa configuration which will increase the ,efficiency thereof; tocounteract any tendency toward undue local N yieldability in thepneumatic element, or the formation of objectionable depressions orelevations therein when in use; to increase' the efficiency of; thepneumatic element, and ofthe mattress'by .an improved method ofassembling the pneumatic element between fiexible,'textile and/or,fibrous elements of diflerentqdegrees of softness or yieldability; toproducers. reversible mattress which shall be of different degrees ofsoftness on its opposite sides; to form. a mattress,

go embodying a plurality of pneumatic elements, which may be folded upcompactly without doubling or bending a pneumatic element on itself. Inthe drawings, in each ,of thefigures of 5 which similar referenceletters refer to similar I parts, Figure l is a perspective view of theimproved pneumatic element, top up;--Figu re 2 is a perspective view ofthe same, bottom up; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, on anenlarged 30 scale, of one pneumatic element with its associ- I aplurality of diagonally disposed ribs or ridges a ated textile andfibrous topping and base, and

the covering, taken as on a line 33 of Figure 4,

which is a perspective view of a typical mattress,

bottom up, and with the foundation and cover 35 partially broken away,this view being on a reduced scale as compared with Figures 1 and 2;Figure 5 is a perspective view of a detail of a corner of the mattress,on a scale similar to that of Figures land 2; Figure 6 is a plan view ofa a0 mattress adapted to fold up on itself; Figure '7 is a longitudinalview of the same taken aslocking up on Figure 6; Figure 8 is aplan viewof an improved mattress support; Figure!) is an end view'of thesame;,Figure-l0 is a longitudinal view 45 of a completemattress, mountedon the improved support which is shown as, a longitudinal section takenon the lin'e l0-l0 of Figure 8; and

,Figure 11 is an edge-view of a modifiedform of pneumatic element havinga stiffened; marginal ,50 bead or rim, the upper right hand'corner beingin section, better to showthe construction. This figure'is on the samescaleas Figure 3.. Figures 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are on a reduced scale ascompared with Figure 4.

. 55 Thetopping element l of the mattress is shown as composed of afibrous body 2 of hair, vegetable fibre or the like, inclosed within vasuitablecover 3, and adapted to yield locally, bothby compression anddepression. when pressed from "above; l

. 5 The foundation or bottom element 4 iscomposed of a similaiz'butpreferably less soft and yieldable, fibrous body 5, inclosed in asuitable casing 6, and is preferably less flexible and yieldable thanthe topping l. 10

Between the topping l and foundation I is in- V serted the pneumaticelement or elements I; It is .7 desirable, especially for full lengthmattresses, to

use a plurality of these pneumatic elements, for

instance 3, as shown in Figure 4, both for faw cilitating manufacture,convenience of removal and replacement, and forv making the mattress rconveniently foldable as hereinafter pointedout.

Each of these elements ,1 is shown as consisting of a single, integralunit adapted to retain within it confined air, and having on what isnormally its lower or under side a plurality of elongated chambers 8, 8,each provided with a plurality of arched recesses 9, 8, springinglengthwise thereof, and with a resulting,'plurality of protuberances l0,IILbetWeen and beyond the recesses, so that, when the element is laidwith the chambers 8, 8 down, it will be supportedv by the protuberances"I, Hi.

The upper face of'the element I-is formed with II, I I, forming betweenthemdepresslons I2, I 2,'

the-bottoms of which, when they crossv above the depressions between theelongated chambers 8, 8 are formed of a single thickness of material,

'pressions l3, l3, those partsof the bottomsof the respectivedepressionswill lie against=each other and, when vulcanized,'wi1l coalesce in asingle united thickness or layer. The perfora tions ll, it pass. throughthe coalesced layer 5 from side to side. I a

Where the ridged air chambers II, II cross theelongated chambers 8, 8,they open into each other, so that inclosed air may move to andfrothrough all of them and may be displaced by pressure from one areaand made to increase the air pressure at other points.

By disposing the upper air channels diagonally of the lower ones amaterial improvement is obtained in the functioning of the air containerin use as a mattress or cushion element, in comparison with aconstruction in which the upper and lower air chambers are disposed atright angles to each other; for tendency of the container to bend orbuckle along right lines is counteracted, and more uniform support forsuch a load as the human body is obtained. For instance, if a user liesextended, from end to end of a container having top and bottom airchambers disposed at right angles to each other, the lower limbs, beingparallel to the lower air chamhers, will tend to bed down between them,or to be carried by the chamber or chambers substantially adjacent to orparallel with them, the upper chambers pressing down, only to the extentof their breadth, against the lower chambers. But where a diagonaldisposition of the upper chamhers is adopted the pressure of each upperchamber will be spread over a greater area of the lower chamber, and amore uniform support for the load will result, without the loss ofsoftness or resiliency; and the container will tend to retain anapproximateLv flat disposition, with diminished liability to fold orbuckle along right lines.

Furthermore, if in a sectional mattress, such as is shown in Figure 4,the diagonal chambers of one section slope in a different direction fromthose of the next one, for instance from right to. left. as shown inFigure 1, in one section, and

from left to right in an adjacent section, which may be accomplished byturning the second section end for end, a further diffusion of supportwill be obtained, and the carrying quality of the mattress will befurther improved.

The 68171118 quality of the mattress is also improved by the placing ofthe pneumatic element between the topping I and the yielding foundationI. Because the comparatively soft topping affords a locally yieldingcarrier in which the more prominent irregularities of the human body maybed down before transmitting their arched portions of the chamber 8 arepressed down to that foundation. Thus an increasing resistance is builtup out of the support of the protuberances, the carrying capacity of thearches and the gradual yielding of the foundation, all of whichcooperate to produce an approximate uniformity T'of softly yieldingsupport, particularly in combination with the diagonal top chambers andthe soft topping as already described.

By turning the mattress over a firmer upper surface may be presented foruse, if that is desired ment ll, thus permitting the insertion orremoval at will of the inclosed elements of the mattress for airing,cleaning and repair. This arrangement also facilitates access to thepneumatic valves i1, H, for the proper regulation of the air in theelements 1, I.

If it is desired to fold the composite mattress, an arrangement may beadopted which will readily permit this by making the topping andfoundation in sections similar in size to the pneumatic section andforming the cover ISA with several pockets for instance three, into eachof which a topping, air container and foundation are inserted, thepockets being preferably joined to each other at their adjacent edges,alternately at top and bottom, as at l8, l9, so that one end section maybe folded over and the other under the middle section; thus permittingthe sections of the mattress to be folded flat-wise against each other.

Under certain conditions, for instance where the mattress is to be usedto replace one supported by box springs, it is desirable to provide asuitable, convenient support for it. And such a support isshown inFigures 8, 9 and 10, wherein a flat top 20, of ply board or othersuitable material, is carried by cross members 2|, 2|, stayed by edgings22, 22. The top is is perforated, as at-23, 23, for the purpose ofventilation. Such a support may be placed within an ordinary bedsteadframe, and will provide a suitable carrier for the mattress.

Proper ventilation is an important consideration in mattresses; as bothfor sanitation and comfort access of air to the interior of the mattressis desirable.

The construction of my improved mattress insures-adequate ventilation,not only through the topping I and foundation 4, but also through theperforations II, M, the depressions l2, II, the recesses 9, 9, and thespaces I3, it between the chambers 8, 8, all of which will be more orless open during both use' and disuse of the mattress and which willcooperate bellows-like to expel and draw in air through apertures 21, 21in the casing as the mattress is subjected to varying pressures andmodifications of form during use.

In Figure 11,1 have shown amodiflcation of the marginal rim or head ofthe pneumatic element, which is substantially thickened as compared, forinstance, with the showing of Figure 3 of the drawings, and ispreferably moulded so as to produce a flat top with an underside slopingdownwardly and inwardly at an angle of about 45 degrees from the top.The result of this construction is to surround the pneumatic elementwith a comparatively stiff rim 2!, which will quite definitely supportthe cover or casing against deflection inwardly, and will materiallyassist in maintaining the proper contour of the mattress or cushion.

By means of my improvement I produce a mattress embodying the advantagesof both an air confining element or elements and of textile and fibrouselements, the desirable characteristics of one element supplementingthose of the others so as to result in a unitary assembly quite uniformin softness, yieldability and resilience, susceptible of being madeharder or softer by varying the air control of the pneumatic element,automatically ventilates itself when in use, retaining its form withoutpermanent distortion, and which may be conveniently folded upon itselfif desired.

The particular embodiment of my invention which I have illustrated anddescribed is to be taken as a typical and not on exclusive form; for

details may be varied, as by theme of equivalents, without departingfrom the spirit of my invention or the scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is:-

1. A pneumatic mattress or cushion, composed of rubber or the like,embodying a' plurality of elongated air chambers projecting from oneface and extending across the mattress, each provided on its outer facewith a plurality of medial and terminal protuberances with archesspringing longitudinally inwardly between them, in combination with athickened, flexible, textile and fibrous foundation sufilcientlyresistant to substantially oppose the bedding down therein of theaforesaid protuberances, and a flexible, textile and fibrous topping,softer and thicker than the foundation, and disposed on the oppoute sideof the air container from the foundation. 1'. v g 2. In a pneumaticmattress or cushiomthe coni-v face with a plurality of medial andterminal pro tuberances with arches springing longitudinally. inwardbetween them, another plurality of inter-- communicating air chambersforming ridges projecting from the other face of the air container anddisposed diagonally relative to the first mentioned chambers, athickened, soft, textile topping resting against the diagonal chambers,and a.

thickened, but comparatively stiffer, flexible, textile foundationapplied against the opposed series oi. chambers, and means for holdingthe storesaid elements in assembled relation.

3. A pneumatic mattress or cushion, composed of rubber or the like,embodying a plurality of elongated air chambers projecting'from one faceand extending across the mattress and each provided on its outer facewith a plurality of -medial and terminal protuberances with a pluralityof arches springing longitudinally inwardly between them, and aplurality of intercommunicating air chambers projecting from its otherface and disposed diagonally relative to the flrstmentioned chambers.

4. The combination in a mattress of a pneumatic core having a series ofcomparatively deep trough like depressions each extending from withinone edge to within another edge of one face thereof, and another seriesof comparatively deep trough like depressions each extending across theopposite face of the core within its edges with their longitudinal axesofl'set angularly from those of the first mentioned series, the bottomsof the opposed depressions being separated by comparatively thinintegral webs, ventilating openings passing through said webs andforming channels interconnecting a plurality of said depressions, and atextile facing for each side of the core, the depth of the depressionsbeing sufficient to prevent the textile facings from reaching theirbottoms in the normal use of the mattress, whereby series of permanentlyfree and. relatively crossed interconnected, ventilating channels aremaintained in the opposed faces of the core.

5. The combination in a mattress of a pneumatic core having a series oftrough like depressions with closed ends each extending from one edge toanother of one face thereof, 'and another series of trough likedepressions extending across the opposite face of the core with theirlongitudinal axes offset angularly from those of the first mentionedseries, the opposed depressions at their points of crossing extendingthrough the whole thickness of the core except that their bottoms at thepoints of crossing are separated by comparatively thin integral webs,ventilating openings passing through said webs and forming 1 ventilatingchannels interconnecting amultiplicity of said depressions, and atextile facing for each-sideoffthe core, the depressions being sumcintlfdeep and narrow to prevent the textile facings from reaching theirbottoms in the nornial usef-of the mattress, whereby series ofpermainentiy-ffree and relatively crossed and interconve'tilatingchannels are maintained in the opposed aces of the core. V

6. Thy'combizidtionin a mattress of a pneuone face'thereofitheendsiofthe depressions be- I matic core haying aseries of elongated depres.-sions', with abrupt. sides each extending across ing closed by anintegralrimf-having a continuous 1 and acute-angled. outer edge, andanother series of elongated 'de'pressionsswith abrupt sides eachextending across ,the opposite faceoffithe core with their longitudinalaxes onset angularly from and crossing a plurality of the-firstmentioned series of. depressions, the opppsed depression at their pointsof crossing -extendingz through .the

whole thickness of the core except thatitheirbpttoms atithe point ofcrossing are: separated by comparatively thin integral webs,-ventilating openings passing through said webs. mayeqnnecting eachdepression with a plurality. ofsop w posed depressions, anda textilefacing for, each side of the core, the depressions being sufliciently vdeep and narrow to prevent the textile facings from reaching the bottomsof the depressions in 1 the normal use of'the mattress, whereby seriesof permanently free and relatively crossed ventilating channels aremaintained in the opposed faces of the core.

7. A new article of manufacture, a rectangular, pneumatic mattress orcushion core, having a series of trough like depressions extendingacross the bottom thereof, another series of r trough like depressionsextending across the top thereof with their longitudinal axes angularlyoffset from those of the first mentioned series, and a comparativelystiff, but flexible, integral marginal rim having an outwardlyextending, angular, upper edge surrounding the upper edge of the core inthe plane of its top and closing the ends of the depressions in its top.

ROBERT W. SAMPSON.

